Trail Blazers Trade Out of Second Round, Pick Up Future Assets
Portland did not keep either of their two second-round picks on Thursday.
The second day of the NBA Draft concluded on Thursday afternoon, and it was certainly one way to spend two and a half hours.
The broadcast of the second round, which was a standalone day for the first time in NBA history, had everything. Shots of a studio with no audience and a handful of leftover green-room invitees waiting to hear their name called by deputy commissioner Mark Tatum. So many trades that it became a surprise which team had which pick when the selections were reported a few minutes before they showed up on the broadcast. Lots of discussion—probably over half the show—about Bronny James, who shockingly went No. 55 overall to his dad’s team in a move nobody saw coming.
As for the Trail Blazers? They brought back a franchise legend.
Portland entered Wednesday with four picks, two in the lottery and two in the second round. In the first round, they took Donovan Clingan No. 7 overall and sent out the 14th pick along with Malcolm Brogdon to Washington in the trade that brought back Deni Avdija.
Here’s what they did on Thursday (it’s confusing):
Traded the first of their second-round picks, No. 34 overall, to New York for three future second-round picks, in 2027, 2029 and 2030.
Traded back from No. 40 to No. 52 with Oklahoma City for cash, after the Thunder acquired that pick from the Warriors.
Sold the No. 52 overall pick back to its original owner, Golden State, for more cash.
If you’re doing the math, they’ve now recouped both of the future second-round picks they traded to Washington in the deal for Avdija.
It always felt like it would be too unwieldy for a team with so many young players already needing minutes to bring four rookies to camp. And assuming they pick up Dalano Banton’s $2.2 million team option for next season (which I expect them to do), they’ll have 15 roster spots filled. Drafting a player in the second round only made sense if they could have gotten someone to agree to a two-way contract. They could fill those spots in the coming days ahead of Summer League in Las Vegas regardless.
Free agency officially opens on Sunday and it’s likely the Blazers, after trading Brogdon, will continue gauging the trade market for their veterans including Matisse Thybulle, Robert Williams III, Jerami Grant and potentially Anfernee Simons.